Combination lock



Dec. 19, 1967 l.. H. PERRY 3,358,479

COMBINATION LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1965 /oeA/EKS Dec. 19,1967 L. H. PERRY 3,358,479

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Sept. 28. 1965 /ngy 31 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2aINVENTOR.

44m/ s eeg y United States Patent O 3,358,479 COMBINATIGN LQCK Landis H.Perry, 213 41st St., Newport Beach, Calif. 9266i) Filed Sept. 2S, 1965,Ser. No. 490,989 17 Claims. (Cl. 70-25) 'I'he present invention relatesgenerally to combination locks and, more particularly, one Without anumbered scale that is actuated by a predetermined sequence of movementsof an operating knob. My prior Patent No. 2,957,355 discloses anumberless combination lock of this type.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved numberlesscombination lock that can be incorporated into a variety of latchingdevices; that is, easier to operate in that it reduces the friction ofthe internal moving parts; in that it is capable of a greater number ofpossible combinations being set into the mechanism at the option of theuser; in that the movable elements of the commination mechanism can morereadily be disposed in a desired pattern as a condition precedent tosetting a new combination into the lock or to working a combinationalready set into the lock; and in that the actuating sequence ofmovements has been simplied.

It is also ya further general object of this invention to provide acombination lock that will attain the objects and advantages of myaforementioned patent in a more facile manner and by means of asimplified construction that also has the advantage of achieving greaterstructural strength, whereby to better resist destruction of the lock.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description thereof and from the attacheddrawings illustrating the presently preferred embodment.

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a padlock into which my improvedcombination lock has been incorporated.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE l, n anenlarged scale and showing the relative positions of internal parts ofthe combination mechanism disposed to prevent opening of the lock.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, similar to FIGURE 2, but showing therelative positions of internal parts o'f the mechanism disposed in Vamanner to allow opening of the lock.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a view of the area a further enlarged scale.

FIGURE 7 is a front view of the lock with the cover plate removed, otherportions being shown in section and cut-away to more clearly showcertain details of construction.

FIGURE 7a is a sectional view on the line 7a-7a of FIGURE 7, a furtherenlarged scale, to show a portion of the means for permitting changingof the combination.

FIGURE 7b is a view like FIGURE 7a, but showing the parts in differentrelative positions.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the combination actuating means,on a further enlarged scale, overlying portions of the lock having beenremoved for clarity of illustration.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8, but showing the parts indifferent relative positions.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 7, on aslightly reduced scale.

Referring now to the drawings for the general arrange- 6 of FIGURE 5, on

ment of the invention, the lock includes a hollow body 29 that ispermanently closed by means of a front plate 21 secured thereto byrivets 22 or other suitable permanent fasteners. As the invention ishereshown incorporated in a padlock, by Way of example, the body isprovided With the usual shackle or hasp 23 that is U-shaped and has legs24 and 25 of unequal lengths (see FIG. 7) slidable in bores 20a and 2011of the body. Internally, the body 2@ is provided with a pivotallymounted latch 26 (see FIG. 7), normally engaging the short leg 25 of thehasp to prevent opening the lock. Protruding from the front cover plate21 is an actuating knob 27 through which the combination means can beoperated to allow the latch 26 to be moved out of engagement with theshort leg 25 of the hasp, whereby the hasp may be opened.

Broadly considered, the combination means of the present invention issubstantially like that shown in my prior Patent No. 2,957,355. Thus,within the body 20, there is a disc carrier plate 30, disposed coaxiallywith the actuating knob 27 and adapted to swing the pivotally mountedlatch 26 out of engagement with the short leg 25 of the hasp in responseto depression of the knob. This carrier plate 30 mounts a plurality ofindex elements or combination discs 31 that lare circularly spaced apartand which individually can be set in either of two positions relative tothe plate 30 and releasably retained in a desired combination pattern bymeans of a disc locking plate 32, coaxially disposed with the carrierplate 30. Opposing the combination discs 31 is an axially immovablesupport plate 33 carrying a plurality of blocking elements or balls 34held by a spring disc 35. These balls, individually, can occupy eitherof two positions relative to their supporting plate 33 and when disposedin a manner complementary to the preset pattern of combination discs 31,allow suiiicient axial movement of the combination discs 31 and disclCarrier plate 30 to allow the carrier plate-30 to allow the carrierplate to move the latch 26 out of engagement with the hasp.

More specifically, the cover plate 21 is formed with an opening 36 thatrotatably seats the stem portion of the knob 27. In order to slidablyreceive an axle 37, the knob 27 is formed with a central bore 38, whoseouter end is deeply counterbored, as at 39, to slidably mount a head 40of the axle 37. The knob 27 and axle 37 are keyed together forco-rotation by means of a diametrically opposite pair of set screws 41,disposed in tapped bores of the knob 27, each of these set Screws havingplain ends 42 that are slidable longitudinally of the axle 37 with apair of lonvitudinally extending and diametrically opposite grooves 43formed in the head 40 of the axle.

The plate 30 that carries the combination discs 31 is centrally formedwith a bore 45 that rotatably and slidably receives the axle 37.Referring to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the plate 30 is formed with aradially protruding index tab 46 that is slidably receivable within agroove 47 formed within the chamber of the body 2G. By this means, theplate 3d remains in the proper angular orientation, relative to the axle37 and the latch 25, whereby another radially protruding pad 4S on theplate 3@ is disposed within a groove 49 formed in the underside of thelatch 26 (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIGURE 7, the short leg 25 of the hasp, adjacent its end, isformed with a notch 51 adapted to be entered by the swingable end of thelatch 26. A spring 52 is disposed between the rear face of the latch 26and rear wall of the -body 20 to normally bias the latch into theengaged position or into engagement with the leg 25 of the hasp. Asshown in FIGURE 3, the body 2d is interiorly provided with an integralpad 53 to limit forward movement of the lever 26 in response to thespring action.

3 As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the lower end of the hasp leg 25 isformed with a cam surface 54 and the swingable end of the latch 26 onits upper surface is formed with a cam surface 55, these two surfacescooperating to cam the latch 26 out of the way on reinsertion of theshort leg 25.

In the illustrated lock, the carrier plate 3i) mounts eight of thecombination discs 31, although a greater or lesser number could be used.The discs 31 are identical in configuration. Thus, each is made from acircular piece that has had an arcuate sector -of approximately 135removed in order to leave a pair of apices symmetrically disposed withrespect to the center of the piece. n the side of the carrier plate 3i)that faces the balls 34, it is formed with a circular groove 56 thatseats a circular wire 57. This wire passes through holes formed in thecenters of the combination discs 31 and the carrier plate 30 is formedwith eight radially disposed slots 58 through which the discs 31 freelyextend. The combination discs 31 are thus pivotally mounted on the rod57 so that one or the other of the apices 31a of the disc can protrudeout of the carrier plate 30 at dierent radial distances from the centerofthe plate 3i).

In order to mount the locking plate 32 for holding the combination discs31 inthe desired individual orientation, the carrier plate 30 is formedwith a central boss 30a 0n Y whose end the locking plate 32 is coaxiallyseated and held against axial displacement by a snap-ring 59 seated inan appropriate circumferential groove formed in the end of the boss 30a.The locking plate 32 is made of a thin sheet metal, having someresilience and, as shown in FIGURE 7, is formed with eight radiallydisposed slots 60, opening into the periphery of the disc. The disc orplate 32 is thus biased against the protruding circular edges of thecombination disc 31. Each combination disc 31 is formed with a pair ofslots 61 opening into the circular edge and equally spaced on oppositesides of the axis of symmetry of the disc 31. The locking plate 32,along one edge of each of the slots 66, isiorrned with an integral tab62, the eight tabs being displaced from the plane of the plate 32 asbest seen in FIGURES 7a and 7b. All of the tabs 62 are disposed on adiameter substantially equal to and superposed over the circular rod 57seated in the carrier plate 30. The locking plate 32 can be angularlyadjusted relative to the carrier plate 30, whereby the tabs 62 can beinserted into or withdrawn from the slots 61 of the combination discs31, whereby to dispose each disc with a desired one of the apices 31aprotruding therefrom. n

The inner end of the knob 27 is formed with a shallow counterbore 64 ofsufficient diameter to freely receive the confronting end of the boss30a of the carrier plate 39 and the snap-ring 59. This same end of theknob 27 is also formed with a circular groove 65 that seats one end of acoiled spring 66, whose other end bears against the disc locking plate32. Thus, in response to inward pressure on the knob 27, the spring 66is compressed and forces the plates 32 and 30 towards the latch 26 toultimately swing the latch out of the way if the right combination hasbeen set into the lock. This is accomplished without any direct Contactor abutment occurring between the knob 27and the boss 36a of the carrierplate 3i), because of the clearance afforded by the shallow counterbore64. This can be observed from FIGURE 3, showing the normal fullydepressed position of the knob 27. From that figure, it will be seenthat upon any further inward movement of the knob 27, a shoulder 67defined between the head and the stem of the knob will seat upon thecover plate 21 of the body before any Contact can occur between theinner end of the knob and the boss 30a. While FIGURE 3 shows thecombination, i.e., the balls 34 and discs 31 in position to permitopening of the lock, nevertheless, upon inspection of FIGURE 2, it willbe apparent that even when the proper combination has not been set intothe balls 34, clearance will still remain between the boss 30a of thecarrier plate 3i? and the inner end of the knob, even though the knob befully depressed until the shoulder 67 abuts the cover plate 21. Thisarrangement avoids the possibility of opening the lock by hammering onthe knob 27 in an attempt to break the discs 31.The result of suchhammering would be merely to drive the shoulder 67 of the knob on to thecover plate 21 Without driving the combination discs 31 against the ball34 to such an extent as to break the discs.

To support the ball support plate 33 rotatably within the body 29, thebody seats a restraining ring 70 against its floor or blind end. Thisring may 'be secured in place by a plurality ot press itted pins 71extending through the wall of the body 20 and into blind bores formed inthe ring 70. The ring 70, in turn, contains a bushing 72 on top of whichthe ball support Vplate 33 rests, the plate being held rotatably withinthe ring on top of the bushing by means of a radially inwardlyprojecting lip 73 formed integrally with the ring 7 il. The ball supportplate 33 is formed with a central boss 74 on whose end the ball retainerspring disc 35 is seated in coaxial relationship to the plate 33. Ahollow rivet '75 extends through the centers of the plate 33 and springdisc 351 and slidably and rotatably receives the inner end of the axle37. Y

The innermost end of the axle 37 has a plate 76 secured thereto of adiameter to be axially slidable within the bushing 72. This plate isprovided with eight carn blocks 77, equally circularly spaced around theaxle 37 and rigidly secured to the plate 76 in radial relationshipthereto. A spring 78 is coiled around the axle 37 to be compressedbetween the plate 76 and one side of the ball support plate 33. Thus,the plate 76 is normally biased against the floor or blind end of thebody 20, but when the knob 27 is pulled, the plate and the cam blocks 77thereon are moved towards the ball support plate 33.

Referring to FIG. 8, the ball support plate 33 is formed with eightequally circularly spaced apart and radially extending slots 80, openinginto the periphery of the plate 33. These slots are of a width toprovide a track or race for the corresponding balls 34, which are thusmovable radially of their supporting plate. As it is desired to haveeach ball 34 capable of being definitely but yieldably positioned in oneof two radially inner or outer positions on the plate 33, that surfaceof the plate on which the balls are disposed is formed with a circulardepression having outer and inner edges 81 and 82, whose intersectionswith the slots S0 define the radial range of movement of the balls 34.Referring to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the edges 81 and 82 arelocated approximately in registration with the diameters deiined by thepairs of apices 31a of the combination discs 31, when the apices projectfrom the plate 30.

Attention is drawn to the configuration of the cani blocks 77 and theirrelationship to the slots 80 and edges 81 and 82 of the ball supportdisc 33. Thus, each of these blocks has a cam edge 77a on its free endwhose apex is at the radially innermost edge of the block and which edgeis freely receivable in one of the slots 8i) of the ball plate 33. Thiscam edge is in registration with the inner portion only of the length ofthe corresponding slot 80. Thus, as is shown in FIGURE 2, referring tothe lower half of the drawing, when a ball 34 is disposed in itsradially inner position within a slot Si), it can be shifted to itsradially outer position merely by pulling on the knob 27. This causesthe plate 76 and the cam blocks 77 thereon to be displaced axiallyrelative to theball support plate 33, moving the Cani blocks 77 totheApositions shown in phantom outline in FIGURE 2. The cam edge 77a thuscams the corresponding ball 34 to the radially outer position, asindicated by the dotted outline position of the ball in the lower halfof the figure.

Referring to FIGURE 5, the ball retainer spring disc 35 is formed with aset of equally circularly spaced apart and radially disposed closed-endgrooves S5. in registration with the combination discs 31 and the slots80 formed in the ball carrier plate 33. The balls 34 are thus guidedradially by the grooves 85 and slots 80 to be shiftable to positionsleaving a portion of each groove 85 clear to receive an apex 31a of acombination disc 31 when the combination is worked successfully. Anotherset of equally circularly spaced apart and radially disposed slots S6whose outer ends open into the periphery of the disc 35 to form springfingers iirmly biasing the balls 34 into the slots 80, against lateraldisplacement and against radial displacement, if contacted by an apex31a of a disc 31.

In operating the lock, certain ones of the balls 34 are shifted to theirradially inward position, while the other balls are allowed to remain intheir radially outermost position. Accordingly, a means is provided forindicating to the user of the lock, every position of the ball supportplate 33 in which one of the balls 34 is in a position to be shiftedfrom a radially outer position to a radially inner position and suchmeans are shown in FIGURES and 6.

Thhe restraining ring 70 has an incomplete wall formed with an externalcircumferentially disposed groove S8 in whose upper portion a leafspring 89 is seated. An end of this spring is formed into a generallyV-shaped detent 90 that is directed inwardly through an opening 91formed through the wall of the restraining ring 70. Thus, every time theouter end of a slot 80 formed in the ball support plate 33 comes intoregistration with the opening 91, it is engaged by the spring detent 90,the yieldable stop being sensed through the knob 27. Each of these stopsindicates to the user that one of the balls 34 is in position to beshifted radially inwardly on the ball support plate 33.

The means by which the balls 34 can be individually moved from outer toinner positions in the slots 80 of the ball support plate 33 are shownin FIGURES 8 and 9. This ball actuating means includes an assembly of agenerally Lshaped plate 95, a pawl 96 pivetally connected to the rearface of the plate 95 by a suitable fastener 97, and a generally S-shapedleaf spring 9S, also fastened to the rear side of the plate 95 andhaving one end normally biasing the pawl 96. The housing 20 is providedwith an internal pocket 99, registering with the opening in theincomplete wall of the ring 70, of a shape to slidably contain thisassembly for movement between the two positions shown in FIGURES 8 and9. Also, the spring 98 and pawl 96 are disposed by the pocket 99 in thesame plane as the ball support plate 33, while the plate 95 of theassembly overlies the ball support plate, extending into the spacebetween the ball retainer spring disc 35 and the ball support plate.

Disposed in this manner, the pawl 96 is biased by the spring 9S intoengagement with the periphery of the ball support plate 33, while theplate 95 is disposed in substantially the same plane as the diametralplanes of the balls 34. Further, the angular relationship between thepocket 99 and the spring detent 90 is such that when the detent engagesone of the grooves 80 of the ball support plate 33, a shoulder 100formed on the pawl 96 is simultaneously engaged by one edge of Vanothergroove 80, as shown in FIGURE S. Then, when the support plate 33 isturned in counterclockwise direction as indicated by the directionalarrow 101, the assembly is slid do-wnwardly within the pocket 99, asindicated by the directional arrow 102, because of the abutment of theshoulder 100 of the pawl with one edge of the slot 80. Simultaneously, acam edge 103 of the plate 95 engages one of the balls.34 and slides itradially inwardly in its groove 80. Thus, when the assembly reaches thebottom of the pocket 99, as viewed in FIG. 9, the cam edge 103 hasforced a ball 34 to its radially inner seat in its groove 80. Now, uponclockwise movement of the plate 33, the assembly is forced upward to itsstarting position of FIG- URE 8. The strength of the spring 98 is suchthat the rfing 106 for insertion in a hole 111,

cam 104 and shoulder 100 cannot escape from the engaged groovethroughout the range of reciprocation of the assembly, as limited by thepocket 99, so the cam edge 104 is ineffective until the assembly returnsto the position of FIGURE S. Upon further clockwise movement of plate33, one edge of a slot 80 engages cam edge 104 of the pawl 96 to pivotthe pawl out of the way against the force of the spring 9S until anotherslot 80 is halted by the detent spring 90, whereupon the shoulder of thepawl clicks back into a new groove 80.

The cover plate 21 is formed with a small opening 106 (see FIGURES l andl0) as a means of providing access to the interior of the lock forpurposes of changing its combination. However, this opening is closedwhenever the lock is in the locked condition. Thus, as is shown inFIGURE 10, the end of the long leg 24 of the hasp is integrally formedwith a reduced diameter portion 107 that terminates in a head 103,whereby the portion 107 may be received within a slot 109 formed in onewall of a blocking member 110. This blocking member has another walll10n, which obstructs the opening 106 whenever the hasp is locked intothe body 20. Upon the combination being successfully worked, the legs 25and Z4 of the hasp can be withdrawn to a limited extent, whereupon theblocking member 110 is lifted away from the opening 105, being carriedon the head 103. Thereupon, a needle-like instrument can be insertedthrough the openthat is formed in a tab 112 integrally formed with andprojecting radially from the disc locking plate 32.

While the disc carrier plate 30 is keyed against angular ymovementrelative to the body 20, the locking plate 32 is not so keyed andtherefore, by the use of a needlelike instrument, the locking plate maybe shifted clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 7 to be angularly displacedrelative to the disc carrier plate 30. Such displacement is illustratedin FIGURE 7b and results in withdrawing the tabs 62 of the locking platefrom one or the other of the slots 61 of all of the combination discs31. As a result, all of the combination discs 31 are pivotal on thecircular rod 57, although yieldably restrained by the plate 32. Then, ifthe balls 34 have previously been arranged in a combination pattern, ifthe knob 27 is pushed into the body 20, the disc carrier plate 30 iscarried in the same direction and Contact between one or the other ofthe apices 31a of each combination disc with a ball 34 will set thecombination discs in the proper attitudes corresponding to the positionsof balls 34. Fressure on the knob 27 can then be released and thelocking plate then moved in the opposite direction, i.e., counterclock-Wise, as viewed in FIGURE 7, to reinsert the tabs 52 into one or theother of the slots 51 of each combination disc. The combination is thuspreserved for subsequent operation of the lock.

In the operation of the lock, before it is attempted to work thecombination, all of the balls 34 must be set in their radially outerpositions. This is accomplished very simply, merely by pulling outwardlyon the knob 27. This has a result of pulling the camming blocks '77 intothe slots $0 of the ball carrier plate 33, whereby any of the balls 34that are located on radially inner positions are moved to radiallyoutward positions. After this is done, the lock is ready for working thecombination.

As is apparent, in order to successfully work the combination, all ofthe balls 34 must be arranged in a pattern that is preciselycomplementary to the pattern which has been set into the combinationdiscs 31. It the combination is worked improperly, the result will ybeas shown in FIGURE 2. There, it will be observed that each of the balls34 is in a position to obstruct entry of an apex 31a of each of thecombination discs 31, through the slots 85 of the plate 35 and soprevent suflicient advancement of the carrier plate 30 toward the ballsupport plate 33 to allow the tab 48 of the carrier plate to move thelatch 26 out of the way. By contrast, in FIGURE 3, both of the balls 34illustrated there are in the proper positions relative to thecombination discs 31, whereby apices 31a of these combination discs arenot obstructed by the balls and can penetrate through the slots 85 ofthe plate 35 and into the slots 80 of the ball carrier 33. Accordingly,the disc carrier plate 3G is allowed a suicient range of movement orclearance, whereby the tab 48 engages the latch 26 and swings it out ofthe way, whereupon the short leg of the hasp is freed and the hasp canbe withdrawn from the lock.

By way of example, let it be assumed that the lock has had thecombination 1 2-3 set thereinto. Arbitrarily, such combination is heredened as the number of clockwise steps of the knob 27, i.e., clicks ofthe detent 90 in slots S of the plate 33, between retrograde or limitedcounter* clockwise movements of the knob. Such combination indicatesthat three appropriately spaced ones of the combination discs 31 are setwith their radially inner apices 31a protruding through the carrierplate 30.

The knob 27 is first pulled axially outwardly to clear all of the balls34 to radially outerpositions. Following this, the knob 27 is rotated asfollows: One clockwise step; one counterclockwise movement; twoclockwise steps; one counterclockwise movement; three clockwise steps;one counterclockwise movement. This sequence will result in shiftingthree appropriately spaced apart balls 34 into radially inner positions,in a pattern complementary to the preset pattern of the combinationdiscs 31. Thereupon, depressing the knob 27 forces the plate 30 to moveaxially, whereby its tab 48 contacts the latch 26 to displace the latchand the hasp can be withdrawn.

Withdrawal of the hasp leg 24 moves the blocking member 11G away fromthe opening 196 in the cover plate of the lock, so that if it is nowdesired to change the combination, the locking plate 32 can be displacedangularly relative to the carrier plate 30 to free the discs 31 from thelocking tabs 62. Now, assuming a new combination is to be set into thelock, the lock is iirst cleared by pulling on the knob 27 to shift allof the balls 34 to radially outward positions. The knob 27 is then movedthrough a new sequence of movements corresponding to the new combinationdesired to be set into the lock. This will eect a corresponding radiallyinward shifting of certain balls 34. Thereafter, the knob 27 isdepressed whereby those of the discs 3i that are not properly set willcome into contact with the balls 34 to be pivoted to assume the properpositions. Thereafter, the knob 27 is released to allow the discs 31 tomove away from the balls 34, while being maintained in the newly setcondition by the spring force of the locking plate 32. The locking plateis then moved angularly to reinsert the tabs 62 into the proper slots 61of the combination discs 31. The hasp is then reinserted into the lock,the knob 27 is pulled to clear the balls 34 and the locking is thereuponcompleted with the new changed combination.

The use of the balls 34 as blocking elements is advantageous, in thatthey have low rictional resistance to radial shifting, both in workingthe combination and in clearing the lock. It will also be observed thatthe process of clearing the lock has been greatly simplified, nowinvolving merely a pull on the knob 27. Further, a greater number ofpossible combinations is possible with the structure of the presentinvention, since the knob 27 is not limited to less than 360 as thepermissible range of movement in working a given combination. Also, thelock of this invention involves a simpler sequence of movements inoperating the combination, in that a ratcheting mechanism is no longerrequired to advance the carrier for the blocking elements step by step.

While there has been shown herein, what is considered to be a presentlypreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that variousmodifications and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. A combination lock comprising:

a rotatable support means;

a plurality of blocking elements mounted on said support means inangularly spaced apart relationship around the axis of said supportmeans,

said blocking elements being individually shiftable radially of saidsupport means between inner and outer positions;

a second support means coaxially arranged with and coaxially spacedapart from said iirst mentioned support means,

said rst and second support means being adapted for opposed relativeaxial movement and for co-rotation;

a plurality of camming elements rigidly mounted on said second supportmeans in angularly spaced apart relationship around the axis of saidsecond support means,

said camming elements projecting toward said blocking elements and eachof said camming elements being in registration with one of said innerpositions of one of said blocking elements on said iirst support means;

and cooperating surfaces formed on said camming elements and blockingelements for translating Contact therebetween into radially outwardshifting of said blocking elements to said outer positions in responseto opposed relative axial movement of said first and second supportmeans.

2. A lock as set forth in claim 1 in which:

said second support means is coaxially affixed to an axle that alsocoaxially slidably engages said rst support means;

said first support means having a plurality of radially extending slotsto mount said blocking elements for shifting radially of said rstsupport means;

said camming elements projecting into said Slots of said first supportmeans to key said irst and-second support means together for corotationwhen said axle is turned.

3. A lock as set forth in claim 1 in which:

said first support means comprises a plate that is held against axialmovement and in which said second Y support means is axially movablewithin a limited range towards and away from said irst support means; Y

and in which a biasing means is disposed between said iirst and secondsupport means to normally yieldably bias said support means away rfromone another.

n 4. A lock `as set forth in claim 1 in which:

said blocking elements comprise balls and said first support means isformed with a plurality of radially extending slots in which said ballsare disposed and into which said camming elements are receivable forcontact with said balls.

5. A lock as set forth in claim 4 in which:

said iirst support means comprises a rigid plate and a spring disc incoaxially spaced apart relationship and between which said balls aredisposed to be biased against one side of said plate by said springdisc;

said camming elements being disposed on the opposite side of said platefrom said spring disc.

6. A combination lock comprising:

a body;

a support means rotatably mounted in said body;

a plurality of blocking elements mounted on said support means inangularly spaced apart relationship around the axis of said supportmeans,

said blocking elements being individually shiftable radially of saidsupport means between inner and outer positions;

an actuating member for said blocking elements that is movably mountedin said body for limited reciprocable movement within a plane includingsaid blocking elements;

pawl means movably mounted in said body for limited reciprocablemovement and interconnecting said support means and actuating member toeiect said limited reciprocation of said actuating member in response toreciprocation of said support means;

said pawl means including yieldable means adapted for release of saidpawl means hom said support means upon rotation of said support means inone direction only beyond the range of limited reciprocation of saidpawl means;

said actuating member and each of said blocking elements havingcooperating surfaces adapted to individually shift each of said blockingelements in a radially inward direction on said support means inresponse to rotational movement of said support means in the otherdirection only.

7. A combination lock as in claim 6 in which:

said cooperating surfaces of said actuating member and blocking elementsinclude an edge of said actuating member that at one end of the limitedrange of reciprocation of said member is disposed at an outer positionof one of said blocking elements on said support means to contact ablocking element in said outer position,

said edge being adapted to drive said blocking element to said innerposition on said support means in response to rotational movement ofsaid support means in said other direction as said actuating membermoves to the other end of the limited range of reciprocation of saidactuating member.

8. A lock as in claim 6 in which:

said actuating member and pawl means are inter-connected forco-reciprocation in response to reciprocation of said support means andare slidably contained within a pocket formed in said body adapted toconfine said actuating member and pawl means to reciprocation Withinsaid limited range;

and in which said yieldable means comprises a spring normally biasingsaid pawl means against a periphery of said support means;

said pawl means and said periphery being formed with cooperatingsurfaces adapted both to drivingly interconnect said pawl means andsupport means for co-reciprocation in both directions within saidlimited range and to elect release of said pawl means from said supportmeans upon rotation of said support means in said one direction beyondsaid limited range.

9. A lock as in claim 6 in which:

said support means is drivable by an axle mounted coaxially with saidsupport means and adapted to be turned in either direction by a means onthe exterior of said body;

and in which a yieldable detent means is mounted in said body inoperative association with said support means to yieldably position saidsupport means in a plurality of positions in which one of said blockingelements is positioned in operative registration with said actuatingmember.

10. A lock as in claim 6 in which:

a second support means is coaxially arranged with and coaxially spacedapart from said first mentioned support means;

said first and second support means being adapted for opposed relativeaxial movement and for co-rotation;

and in which a plurality of camming elements is rigidly mounted on saidsecond support means in angularly spaced apart relationship around theaxis of said second support means;

said camming elements projecting toward said blocking elements and eachof said camming elements being in registration with one of said innerpositions of one of said blocking elements on said iirst support means;

and in which cooperating surfaces are formed on said camming elementsand blocking elements for translating Contact therebetween into radiallyoutward shifting of said blocking elements to outer positions inresponse to opposite relative axial movement of said iirst and secondsupport means.

11. A lock as in claim 10 in which:

said irst support means is formed with a plurality of radially extendingslots in which said blocking elements are disposed;

said slots being in registration with said camming elements to receivesaid camming elements upon opposed relative axial movement of said lirstand second support means;

said slots also being engageable with said pawl means at the peripheryof said first support means to effect said limited reciprocation of saidactuating member in response to reciprocation of said lirst supportmeans.

12. A lock as in claim 16 in which:

said rst support means is formed with a plurality ot radially extendingslots in which said blocking elements are disposed;

said slots being in registration with said camming elements to receivesaid camming elements upon opposed relative axial movement of said rstand second support means;

said blocking elements being disposed on the opposite side of said lirstsupport means from said camming elements and substantially within aplane including said actuating member.

13. A lock as in claim 12 in which:

said pawl means and said iirst support means are substantially inco-planar relationship;

said slots also being engageable with said pawl means at the peripheryof said first support means to elfect said limited reciprocation of saidactuating member in response to reciprocation of said first supportmeans.

14. In a lock, the combination comprising:

a body;

a latch movably mounted Within said body;

a combination means within said body including a member mounted foraxial movement to displace said latch only upon successful actuation ofsaid combination means;

an operating knob having a stem rotatably extending through a wall ofsaid body, said knob being mounted for limited axial movement;

an axle rotatably mounted within said body for actuating saidcombination means;

means interconnecting said knob and axle for corotation and for relativeaxial movement;

yieldable means within said body between said member and an inner end ofsaid knob adapted to move said member axially in a direction to displacesaid latch in response to axial movement of said knob;

and cooperating surfaces on said knob and body adapted for contact topositively limit movement of said knob into said body to prevent directcontact between said member and the inner end of said knob when saidmember is prevented from being moved by unsuccessful actuation of saidcombination means.

15. A lock as in claim 14 in which said knob, said member and said axleare in coaxial alignment and said yieldable means comprises a springinterposed between said member and the inner end of said knob andnormally biasing said knob and member apart;

said means interconnecting said knob and axle comprising a bore formedin said knob and opening into the external end of said knob and slidablycontaining an enlarged end of said axle that unidirectionally,positively limits axial outward movement of said knob on said axle byabutment of said enlarged head against an inner end of said bore.

1l 12 16. In a changeable combination lock, the combination and latchmeans for said lock that can be displaced comprising: only as a resultof successfully actuating said coma body; bination means and drivinglyconnected to said clocombinatio'n means including a member in said bodyto sure member to elect displacement of said closure carry a pluralityof combination elements and a plu- 5 member away from said opening onlywhen said rality of combination elements angularly spaced latch means isdisplaced. around an axis of said member and each of which is 17. A lockas in claim 16 in which said latch means selectively positionable in oneof a plurality of diierincludes a hasp having an end of one legconnected to said ent positions relative to said member; closure memberto move said closure member into and acombination element locking meansin said body poS- 10 out of registration with said opening as Said haspis tioned coaXially with said member; moved; said combinano elements andsaid means having en' said closure member and internal'portions of saidlock gageable portions adapted to releasably lock each of havingcooperating portions that are engageable with said combination elementsin a selected position relative to said member; 15 said engageableportions being disengageable and re- Sald body' engageable by relativeangular movement of said References Cited member and said combinationlocking means; a closure member movably mounted in said body to UNITEDSTATES PATENTS normally close an opening formed in said body, said 2025581619 6/1951 Lehman 70-295 one another to limit withdrawal of saidhasp fromV combination locking means to effect said relative angularmovement of said combination locking means EDWARD MCCARTHY AsssmmExammer when said closure member is displaced from said MARVIN A.CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. opening;

1. A COMBINATION LOCK COMPRISING: A ROTATABLE SUPPORT MEANS; A PLURALITYOF BLOCKING ELEMENTS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS IN ANGULARLY SPACEDAPART RELATIONSHIP AROUND THE AXIS OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS, SAID BLOCKINGELEMENTTS BEING INDIVIDUALLY SHIFTABLE RADIALLY OF SAID SUPPORT MEANSBETWEEN INNER AND OUTER POSITIONS; A SECOND SUPPORT MEANS COAXIALLYARRANGED WITH AND COAXIALLY SPACED APART FROM SAID FIRST MENTIONEDSUPPORT MEANS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT MEANS BEING ADAPTED FOROPPOSED RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT AND FOR CO-ROTATION; A PLURALITY OFCAMMING ELEMENTS RIGIDLY MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND SUPPORT MEANS INANGULARLY SPACED APART RELATIONSHIP AROUND THE AXIS OF SAID SECONDSUPPORT MEANS, SAID CAMMING ELEMENTS PROJECTING TOWARD SAID BLOCKINGELEMENTS AND EACH OF SAID CAMMING ELEMENTS BEING IN REGISTRATION WITHONE OF SAID INNER POSITIONS OF ONE OF SAID BLOCKING ELEMENTS ON SAIDFIRST SUPPORT MEANS; AND COOPERATING SURFACES FORMED ON SAID CAMMINGELEMENTS AND BLOCKING ELEMENTS FOR TRANSLATING CONTACT THEREBETWEEN INTORADIALLY OUTWARD SHIFTING OF SAID BLOCKING ELEMENTS TO SAID OUTERPOSITIONS IN RESPONSE TO OPPOSED RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRSTAND SECOND SUPPORT MEANS.